‘Investigate Bluestar or we boycott votes’

Sikhs in Britain have launched a mass letter-writing campaign asking Prime Minister David Cameron to launch a large-scale inquiry into the country's role in the planning and execution of the 1984 Operation Bluestar by the Indian army to flush out militants from the Golden Temple.

Sikh Federation UK has warned that thousands of Sikh voters could boycott Conservative party candidates at next year's general election unless Cameron agrees to a large-scale probe into Britain's role in the operation in Amritsar.

LEADER: Amrik Singh, chair of Sikh Federation UK, has warned that MPs who don’t back the inquiry may face losing votes from Sikhs in their constituencies

“We already have the support of over 50 politicians for an independent public inquiry. In the next few days this number will increase to over 100,” Amrik Singh, chair of Sikh Federation UK, told the Sunday Telegraph.

“Many Conservative politicians in Labour target seats but not supporting the inquiry are under pressure as we have started to gain the support of prospective candidates who are their main rivals,” he claimed.

Britain's estimated 700,000 Sikhs live in areas which include some marginal constituencies in parts of London, Birmingham and the wider West Midlands and their vote is decisive in an election.

DESTROYED: The Harmandir Sahib, also known as the Golden temple, was all but destroyed during Operation Bluestar, yet has now been redeveloped

Worshippers at gurdwaras across the country will be urged to write to their MPs demanding that they back calls for a full public inquiry, the report said.

MPs who refuse to support the call are likely to be banned from gurdwaras and will face losing the votes of Sikhs in their constituencies, the Federation has warned.